UNDER THE STREETLAMP AND GENTLEMAN’S RULE

America has been having a love affair with the human voice. Just turn on the television on any given night and you’ll find shows like “Glee,” “The Voice” and “American Idol.” In March, PBS aired specials featuring the groups Under The Streetlamp and Gentleman’s Rule, and Friday, you can see them live when they kick off the summer season at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles.

“There’s something arresting about music genuinely made by the human voice and people playing instruments that has not been whitewashed digitally by a dozen people in a boardroom,” said Michael Ingersoll, who originated the role of Nick Massi of the Four Seasons in “Jersey Boys.” He also appeared in “Beauty & the Beast” and “Walk the Line.” He is a member of Under The Streetlamp, a quartet which performs hits from the ’50s through the ’70s, with the harmonies and choreography that made the songs classic. The four men, Ingersoll, Shonn Wiley, Michael Curio and Christopher Kale Jones, met while doing the musical, “Jersey Boys.”

Ingersoll lives in Chicago, as does Wiley. Curio resides in New York and Jones is from Los Angeles. Before heading out on tour, the men meet up in Chicago, armed with 15-20 songs each. After listening to the choices and discussing how each tune might be transformed into a version suitable for Under The Streetlamp, 20 songs are selected to hone for performance.

“The criteria for it is it has to be a song that is readily recognizable from the ’40s, ’50s or ’60s,” Ingersoll said. “We want our audience to have plenty of ‘aha moments’ throughout the night. We rehearse and create new material while we’re out on the road on tour because we’re together then. We’ll create material in the afternoon and then perform at night.”

What makes Under The Streetlamp stand out from other similar groups is the camaraderie, Ingersoll said. The men have an easygoing, humorous relationship with each other and evoke the spirit of the Rat Pack, he said.

“We like to think of our show as we’re hosts of a party where you’re going to have a lot of great music and memories with your friends. It’s more than just a concert,” Ingersoll said. “There is still a huge demand and thirst for this genre of music.”

Under The Streetlamp draws its repertoire from American Radio Songbook, a genre which began in the 1940s, when people throughout a community listened to the same radio station. They would hear blues, R&B, country, folk and pop without changing the dial, Ingersoll said. Today, the sources for music are as diverse as its styles, and many of the artists who created the hits of past have died, so the older generation is pleased to see the tunes they cherished passed on and performed live, Ingersoll said.

“One of the reasons I think it is incredibly important to do this job is it stands in opposition to so much of the negativity that’s out there,” Ingersoll said. “I like creating something where people can come together, have a good time, laugh with each other and be inclusive.”

Sharing the spotlight with Under The Streetlamp will be Gentleman’s Rule, an a capella group featuring Will Lockhart, Brent Mann, Luke Mechlin, Holland Nightenhelser, Jasper Smith, Jesse Townes, Andrew Morstein and TJ Breen. Based in Chicago, the octet performs music from the ’60s through today.

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Gentleman’s Rule was put together by Dan Ponce, the creator of Straight No Chaser and producer and manager of Under The Streetlamp. In 2012, they released “Act Accordingly” (Arena Child Records).

“When I left Straight No Chaser, I wanted to continue writing a capella music and I wanted a better outlet to write this very niche genre of music,” Ponce said.

He thought he could repeat Straight No Chaser’s success with a younger group and add to it by filling it with vocalists who can solo or sing in an ensemble equally well.

Gentleman’s Rule performs two original numbers, with the remainder of its repertoire cover tunes with unique arrangements. All of the members of the group contribute song ideas, while Ponce does the bulk of arranging.

Ponce credits Gentleman’s Rules’ success to its vocal prowess.

“If you listen to the radio, so much music is processed,” he said. “I think that music fans are smart, they know how good computers are these days and they know that when you get into a good studio with technology, someone who’s a mediocre singer can sound amazing. With a capella music, you don’t get that luxury. There’s a true yearning for the human voice in its natural form.”